Double-action oil-well pump



March 15, 1927. A. o. ZINN DOUBLE ACTION OIL WELL fUMP 2 sheets-.sheet 1 Filed De@t 5,

M r h 1 192 a c f 5 7- A. o. ZINN DOUBLE ACTION OIL WELL PUMPV Filed Deo. 5, 1925 2. Sheets-Shea*l 2 `\J I x \\\\M. V,

W. Ol m MZ Ml S 30.

, Patented Mar. .15, 192.7.

' UNITED VsTAlEs PATENT OFFICE l ARGUS o. zum, or Los ANGELES, cALIFonNIAL. A

DoUBLE-Ac'rroN on.-wELL Pun-i1.

Aappuaiumi sied nec'ember s, i923.' semi no. e'zeizss.

'This invention relates to the pumping of oil from oil wells and particularly to means of increasing the pumping eiliciency espe cially in case of the deeper wells.

'The vprincipal bjects of my invention'.

acting pump plunger-at the bottom vof the.

well. l The' pumping of oil wells is generally accomplished'with a single acting plunger at thebottom of lthe well pulled upward on the power stroke by a sucker` rod, and allowed to fall by gravity on the return stroke, though ,a wire cable is sometimes.c

used in place of the rod. A gravity return stroke is used as the rod is loose in the pipe and not adapted for pushing upon to force the plunger downward. This is easily understood when we consider the great depth per'end of Figure 1A showinga means of of an oil well, -in'the California oil fields, the wells being frequently drilled to a depth of over ve thousand feet, and in such wells a pump rod becomes in proportion to itsvgreat length only a loose wire in a pipe adapted for a pulling strain only.v

Also,4 since in the deeper wells, such. solid rods'may part of their owniweight, the use of cable for pumpingis resorted to,l and of course this precludes any pushing down upon it in ,order to secure a idouble acting ei'ect.-

The loss of time' through the gravity return stroke is very lgreat, often consuming several minutes.' T

is is due principally to the friction of the working parts and the.

sluggishness ofthe oil passing throughvthe check valves in the pump to permit descentof the plunger.

I overcome the aforesaid loss of time in pumping with single "acting pumps, and make possible the use of double acting pumps by providing definite means for 0 forcing the plunger downward through the agency of a confined liquid, preferably oil, surrounding the pumping ycable or rod, and

which conned liquid transmits the pressure for the return stroke.

In carrying'out my invention the double .or reverse application of power may be made by meansy of' a rigid reciprocating member attached to av rocker beam at the upper end of the rodor cable and the c'onfined liquid column, or the cable may be pulled vupward in the usual manner andv auxiliary mejans used to force the liquid column downward, such auxiliary means being, if desired, the-push of av pressure -cylinder-either mechanically applied to a plunger piston at the upper end of the conned hquid column, or

y a liquid admitted under pressureA to the confining chamber to Aact directly upon the pressure transmitting liqlpld within. I

, y invention may be carried out by the apparatus shown( in the accompanying drawings and in which:

Figures -1^^ and 1 are respectively, the

.lower and upper ends ofA an oil well drawn v1n vertical section showing respectively, the.

pumping elementsA in the lower end andthe varrangement 'of the plunger actuating elements at' the upper end,

Figure 2 is an extension view .of the 11p-- applyin Vpower 'to the 'actuating elements;

` Figurev is anv enlarged cross'section-of Figure '2' taken., along the line 3-3 thereof;

. Figures 4 and 5y are diagrams lillustrating optional methods of ushing the confined oil column downward y the application of other oil under pressure, either to the upper plunger (Figure 4) or directly to the ,con

(Figure 5).

in. further detail the figures show 'a (1) the ground surface, (2) the outer or conductor .casing-, (3) the water string` of casing, (4) the liner string, (5) the oil string,

(6) the tubing, 7) the pumping cable or v rod. as the casemay'be', within the tubing.4

The various casingsA and tubing are supported in the usual wayl by casing clamps.

(8), (9) and (10) surmounted 1by a collar screwed to theparticular casing which it supports, and the'water and liner strin s ofcasing being cemented off below in t e usual manner is iirin in the hole.

At the loweryend. of the oil string is the screen section (11) and at the lower end of the tubing is the pump cylinder (12). Within the cylinder is a pump plunger the oil is pumpedupon both the up and down strokes of -the pump, and passes through suitable ports in the cylinder and the hollow rod and tubing for ejection from the well through the space between the oil string and the tubing, as indicated at (21). At the lower end of the cylinder the inlet ball valves (15) and (16) serve the opposite :strokes and 'at the upper end of the rod (19) extending lfrom the compound plunger is a piston (22) by which it is forced downward for the ret-urn stroke through means of the confined oil column (23) within the tubing, and above the piston (22) is a connection (24) for the pump rod or cable for pulling the plunger on the `upward stroke.

The compound pump plunger shown may assume any one of a variety of forms, either single or double acting, and the arrangement of the various valves and ports modified to suit; .But since such structure is well known to those versed in the art and forms no part of the invented improvements no detailed description of its action is thought necessary.

The tubing is Apositioned within the oil string by resting on a tapered seat (25) and above that is a standard packer (51) sealing the lower end of the space between the tubing and the oil string.

The plunger rod (19) works through a` removable head (49) having a tapered seat .(50) against an internal portion of the tubing. rior iiuid pressure on its upper surface, yet provides means enabling the plunger to be pulled for repairs.

At the upper end of the well is a piston plunger (26) slidable within the tubing or a cylinder barrel communicating with it, and through which piston the rod or cable (7) usually extends as shown in Figure 1A. On top of the piston (26) is a stuffing box member (27) to seal od the cable and the innertube space, and above the member (27) is a suitable cable 'clamp (28) to prevent the Y cable from falling.

l/Vithin the tubing,'surrounding the cable is a liquid (23) preferably oil, and kept under sufficient pressure to tension the Cable .beyond thatI to which it is subjected 'to in pumping the well.

The pressure is maintained by injecting liquid through a pipe (29) having a valve (30)- and a exible metal tube (31) leading to lany suitable source of liquid pressure such as a pump, not shown.

A gage (32) on the pipe gives an ind;- cation of the inner tube pressure at t e The head is held to the seat by supemore oil, or if desired the tube (31) may be kept open to a supply ofoil at a fixed pressure.

In case' a rod is used in place of the cable i (7) it'may be secured to the lower end ot' the piston (26) instead of passing through, but a cable is better passed through as shown to provide for its adjustment, or for pumping the upward stroke if desired as in ordi-- nary pumping with single acting pump.

At the upper end of the piston (26) is a nut portion (33) serving as a grip for adjusting the stufling box (34) or for suspending the confinedoil column by resting the nut on the upper end of the tubing. The pumping is effected by moving the piston (26) up and down by means of any suitable mechanism, and ,whereby the confined liquid column (23) is pushed downward to actuate the pump in -a downward direction Iand the cable is pulled upward to actuatethe pump in the upward direction, and of course also to raise the confined oil column (23) for the next downward stroke.

The oil being pumped from the well isr drilling and pumping rig as indicated in y Figure 2 and wherein (36) is the end of the beam, (37) a link connected to a slide or cross head (38) lslidable in a pair'of channel guides (39) suitabl braced at (40) and (41),

The cross head 38) is connected by suitable straps (42) to the member (27 so that it will be forced in both directions upon operation of the beam. @ther means might be used for applying a downward push to the liquid column instead of the beam, two such methods being indicated in Figures 4 and 5; in Figure 4 the pressure being applied by means o a liquidfrom a pump or other suitable source through the pipe (43) to the upper end of a piston (44). The

Ipiston (44) 1s secured to the cable at (45) and has a rod (46) passing through a stuffing box (47), and adapted for pulling on the upward stroke by a cable (48 cept that the piston (44) is" omitted so that the `forcing down liquid from pipe acts directly' against the confined liquid in the tubing (6).

4Having thus described my invention it will be seen that it provides for the positive movement in the direction to the plunger of an oil well pump throughlthe agency of a In Figure 5 the arrangement is similar ex confined colunm of liquid combined with a tension member, and that it may be realized by several modificati-ons without departing from lthe spirit of thevinvention, any of which coming within the scope of the invenvtion are intended to be embraced in the 'appended Claims. I claim:

1. In a deep well reciprocating pump, a confined column of liquid of substantially constant length for transmitting an operi ative impulse in one direction, and a `tension devlce for transmitting an impulse in .the

' opposite direction extending entirely through the confined column.

'2. In a ydeep well reciprocating pump,

means for applying a reciprocatory power thereto comprising a tension 4member, and a confined column of liquid of substantially constant length surrounding the tension member, both adapted for combined or uni' tary longitudinal reciprocatory movement.

3. In an oil well, a reciprocatory plunger pump at the lower part ofthe --well, a ten-v for forcing it downward by the confined column of liquid.' p

4. In an oil well, a reciprocatory. plunger pump at the lower the upper end thereof and secured to the pump plunger for raising the same, a confined column of liquid of substantially constaritlength above the plunger adapted for forcing it down, means at the top of the well for alternately applying power for lifting the plunger by the tension member and for forclng it downward by the vconfined column'of liquid, and-means for maintaining lill 4plungerfor lifting same,'a slidable a 'pressureon the confined coliimn 'of liquid; 5. In an oil well, a tube extending down .the well'with a'reciprocatory pump plunger.

in the lower end thereof, a tension member extending down the tube secured to v the plunger for lifting same, a shdable plunger at the upper end of thentube vsecured to thetension member, and a liquid filling the tube space between the two plungers.

, (In an oil well, a tube extending downl ythe well with a reeiprocatory pump plunger in the lower end thereof, a tension member extending down.' the 'tube secured to the (plunger at the upperend of the tube secure spacebetween the two plungers confined under pressure to tension the member.

art of the well, a ten sion member extending down the well from.

to thev tension member, and a liquid filling the tube 7. In an -oi.l well, -a tube extending down the well with a reciprocatory pump plunger inthe lower end thereof, a tension member extending down the tube secured lto the plunger forlifting same, a slidable plunger at the upper end of thetube secured to the space between the two plungersfconfined under pressure to tension the member and means for reciprocating the upper plunger.

tension member, and a liquid filling the tube 8. In an oil well, a plunger pump therein, a member extending down into the well and i lsecured to the plungei` of the pump forli-fting same, a tube extending down into the well surrounding the member and in vwhich the plunger is operable, means in. the upper end of the tube for sealing-the member and tube, and a liquid under pressure within the ltube to tension the member.` y

19. In an oil well, a plunger pump therein, a tension vmember extending down into the well and secured to the plunger for lifting same, a 'tube surrounding the tension member and having an extension in which the plunger operates, and means yat "the upper j eind of the tube sealing the tension .member to confine the space within the tube between the plunger `and the upper end of the tube,

said means being (slidable in the upper end of the tube.

l0. In an oil well, .a plunger pump there:

in, a tension member extending down into the well and securedjo the plunger for lifting same, a tube surrounding the tension 10o member and 'fhaving an' extension in which the plunger operates,'and means at the up- "per end of the tube sealing the tension member to confine the space within `the tube be. tween the 'plunger and the upper end of Athe tubesaid means being slidable in the upper `end pressure filling.4 the space within the tube.

of the tube, and a liquid under 11. In an dll well, a plunger pump therein, a tension member extending down into the well and secured to the plunger for lifting same, a tubesurrounding the tension member and having an extension in which the plunger' operates, andmeans at the up" per end of the tube sealing the tension memer to confine the space withinv the tube between the plunger and the u per end oil" the tube, saidumeans being sli able in the als upper end of the tube, and a liquid under pressure" filling the space within the tube,

' and means for maintaining the pressure .o'n

Said uquid.

12. In an oil well, a`fplulngerpuxnp therel in, a tension member extending down linto e -thev well and secured to' the plunger for lifting same, a tubesurrounding the-tension member and having an extension .in which the plunger operates, and means at the uppar end of the tube sealing the tension mem# r to confine the space within the. tube betube, saidmeans being slidable in the upper end of theftube, and a liquid under pres- I sure llingy the space within the tube, and

means above the well connected to the tube space for indicating the pressure of the liquid at the upper e'nd of the column.

13. In 'an oil well, a pump therein having a reciprocatory plunger mechanism, a confined column of liquid above the pump for forcing the plunger downward, and a device secured to the plunger mechanism for pulling the plunger and the conned columnA of liquid upward and bodily raising the e same to a higher elevation.

l14. In an 011 well, a pump therein having a reciprocatory mechanism, means for transmitting reciprocatory motion thereto comprising a 'pipe from the pump to the upper part of the well having spaced plungers slidable therein, a tension resisting device l of one plunger in either direction causes a 25 corresponding movement of tle other plunger.

15. In an oil well, a pump therein having a reciproeatory plunger mechanism, a device extending into thevwell secured to the 30 mechanism, a confined column of liquid -surrounding the device extending from the mechanism to the upper partof the well, means at the topof the well for forcing the liquid downward to correspondingly move 35 the mechanism and means at the top of the well for pulling the device upward to lift ther mechanism and the confined column of liquid bodily to a higher elevation.

- v ARGUS O. ZINN. 

